Contoured support insole

ABSTRACT

A top sheet is coextensive with and secured to the top surface of the base. The top sheet is generally a fabric which preferably has antimicrobial characteristics. In use, the foot of the wearer, with or without a sock or stocking thereon, rests upon the top sheet in the foot-receiving compartment of a user&#39;s shoe.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.3/640,712, filed Oct. 11, 2012, which is the U.S. national applicationof International Application No. PCT/US11/41667, filed Jun. 23, 2011,and which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.No. 61/358,723, filed Jun. 25, 2010.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to the field of replacement insoles for shoes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Insoles are inserted in the shoes of a user to provide one or moreadvantages to to the comfort of the wearer or the support of the foot.Insoles are generally sold in pairs and one of each pair is adapted foruse in a right shoe and the other adapted for use in a left shoe of auser. It is advantageous to provide appropriate structure to an insoleso that it serves the purposes of the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective bottom view of a left insole according to theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a top or foot-side view of a left insole according to theinvention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom or shoe-side view of a left insole according to theinvention.

FIG. 4 is a medial side view of a left insole according to theinvention, as referenced in FIG. 2 as 4-4.

FIG. 5 is a lateral side view of a left insole according to theinvention as referenced in FIG. 2 as 5-5.

FIG. 6 is an end view of a left insole from the toe area toward the heelarea along line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is an end view of a left insole from the heel area area towardthe toe area along line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view along line 8-8 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view along line 9-9 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of the heel area along line 10-10 ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view along line 11-11 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view along line 12-12 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view along line 13-13 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An insole advantageous for users having a medium to high arch is hereindisclosed that provides arch and heel support to users in need of suchsupport. The insole has a bottom (shoe side) and a top (foot side) andcomprises a base having a contoured shape which receives and supportsthe foot of the user. The insole is intended to be used inside a shoeand the bottom side thereof will contact the interior of a shoe afterinsertion therein. In many cases, the insole will be used to replace aninsole in the shoe.

The insole base has a heel end, a toe end, a lateral side and a medialside, said sides extending from said heel end to said toe end. Thelateral side lies adjacent the outer side of a user's foot in use andthe medial side lies adjacent the inner side of a user's foot in use,including the arch of the foot. Accordingly, the contoured shapeincludes an integrally formed raised arch support which extendsgenerally upwardly on the medial side of the insole. This upwardextension allows the raised arch support to lie adjacent to a user'sfoot arch during wearing.

The base has a base top surface and a base bottom surface. The basedefines a heel area adjacent said heel end, a contoured arch supportarea adjacent said medial side, a midfoot area adjacent said contouredarch support area extending essentially horizontally from said contouredarch support area to said lateral side, a forefoot area adjacent saidcontoured arch support area and said midfoot area, and extendingvertically to said toe end.

The base is preferably made from a lightweight resilient material whichis capable of being molded into the desired shape and which provides thedesired support and cushioning. A preferred material is polyurethanefoam. Preferably, a polyurethane foam (“PU”) having a hardness of 40Asker C +/−3 and a density of about 0.41 g/ml +/−3 is employed. PU ispreferred for the base material as it adapts to providing the insolewith a deep heel cup which adheres to a top sheet intended to be wornnext to the foot of the user.

PU is able to adhere to top cloth material and avoid separation of thetop sheet from the base material.

The heel area of the base bottom surface preferably defines a heelcushion indentation for receiving a heel cushion, and in such case aheel cushion is disposed therein.

A preferred heel cushion is made from a neoprene or synthetic rubberlayer which is a polymer of polychloroprene.

The forefoot area of the base bottom surface preferably defines aforefoot indentation for receiving a forefoot cushion and in such case aforefoot cushion is disposed therein.

A preferred forefoot cushion is made from a neoprene or synthetic rubberlayer which is a polymer of polychloroprene.

The midfoot area of the base preferably defines a resilient areacomprising an indentation which extends upwardly from said base bottomsurface to said base top surface. From the vantage point of the base topsurface, said resilient area is convex and horn the vantage point of thebase bottom surface, said resilient area is concave. The resilient areafunctions as a metatarsal pad to distribute pressure from the ball of ausers foot and assist in relieving forefoot pain, in use, the centralpart of the plantar fascia or the plantar aponeurosis of a user's footrests on said resilient area.

In a preferred embodiment, said resilient area is molded into said baseduring manufacture. The convex structure lies under the foot during useand provides cushioning and support.

The insole preferably further comprises a top sheet having a top sheetbottom surface secured to said base top surface and a top sheet uppersurface which contacts the loot of a user luring use. Preferably, thetop Sheet is made of a low-friction fabric which prevents blisters onthe users foot. The top sheet may also contain an antimicrobialtreatment in order to keep bacteria from multiplying and thereforereduce odor. A suitable treatment is Silpure® antimicrobial treatment(Thomson Research Associates, Inc., Ontario, Calif.)

The base bottom arch area preferably defines a plurality of curvilinearindentations positioned from adjacent said midfoot area to said medialside. Lengthwise, said curvilinear indentations extend fromapproximately a border between said forefoot area and said arch/midfootarea to a border between said heel area and said arch/midfoot area.

The curvilinear indentations are preferably molded into the base duringmanufacture. They function to promote polyurethane material flow in thearea of the midfoot while assisting to minimize voids caused by airentrapment. The curvilinear indentations in the arch area also allow thearch area to collapse to fit the shoe thus providing a moreaccommodative design.

Insole production can be accomplished by an open-pour molding process.The process consists of pouring mixed polyurethane into an open mold.Once poured in the mold, the polyurethane mixture will expand to fillthe cavity. Once cured, the base insole is removed from the mold. Theforefoot cushion and heel cushion if employed can be secured to theindentations by adhesive or can be secured to place during thepolyethylene pouring operation. Bonding occurs to a fabric that isbonded to the forefoot cushion or the heel cushion.

As an example, approximate dimensions are given for a men's size 9insole. Length and width of the insole are 28.1 cm (11.063 inches) and9.7 cm (3.813 inches). The length and width will vary according to theshoe size for which the insole is intended.

The total thickness of the insole can range from 6.8 millimeters nearthe too area to 12 millimeters in the arch area. Arch height is about 15millimeters. The forefoot and heel cushions have a thickness ofapproximately 4.0 millimeters.

The preferred depth of the heel cup which is measured from the top sideof the insole near the center of the heel area vertically to the top ofthe upraised heel area or heel raised edge is approximately 15-16millimeters.

Now referring to FIG. 1 which is a perspective view of the bottom (shoeside) of an insole according to the invention. A left insole isillustrated and it can be easily envisioned that a right insole would bea mirror image of the left insole illustrated. Insoles are generallysold and used in pairs, each pair comprising a right and a left insole.Insole (10) of the insole has been divided for discussion into a heelarea (10A) adjacent said heel end, an contoured arch support area (10B)adjacent said medial side, a midfoot area (10C) adjacent said contouredarch support area (10B) extending essentially horizontally from saidcontoured arch support area (10B) to said lateral side, and a forefoot,area (10D).

A heel cushioning pad (20) and a forefoot pad (22) are shown secured toindentations in the bottom side of the base. Forefoot pad (22) issecured adjacent said contoured arch support area (10B) and said midfootarea (10C) and extending vertically to said toe end of the insole. Heelcushioning pad (20) is secured in an indentation in the heel area (10A)of the insole. Pattern (24) is visible in this view in midfoot area(10C). A metatarsal indentation (26) is also located in midfoot area(10C). A plurality of curvilinear indentations (28) are positioned fromadjacent said midfoot area (10C) to said medial side.

Now referring to FIG. 2, which illustrates the top (foot side) of aninsole according to the invention, metatarsal indentation (26) projectsupwardly from the bottom of the insole to the top side. Raised archsupport (30) is along the medial side of the insole. The insole iscontoured to define upraised heel area (32) and lateral raised edge(34).

FIG. 3 illustrates the bottom shoe side of the insole, and metatarsalindentation (26), heel cushioning pad (20), forefoot pad (22),curvilinear indentations (28) and pattern (24) are clearly visible.

Referring to FIG. 4 illustrating medial side view, curvilinearindentations (28) and raised arch support (30) arc illustrated. Alsoillustrated arc forefoot pad (22), base (23) and top sheet (25). Base(23) extends from the heel region to the toe region. Top sheet (25) issecured to the upper surface of said base and is contiguous therewith.

Raised arch support (30) extends upwardly so it will lie adjacent ausers foot arch during use and provide added comfort.

Now referring to FIG. 5 which shows lateral side view of an insoleaccording to the invention, a portion of base (23) and top sheet (25) onraised arch support (30) are illustrated. Forefoot pad (22) which liesin an indentation in base (23) is also visible.

Now referring to FIG. 6 which is an end view from the toe end lookingtoward the heel end, upraised heel area (32) is visible at the heel end,raised arch support (30) is seen on the medial side. Forefoot pad (22),base (23) and top sheet (25) are visible.

Upraised heel area (32) is adapted generally to receive the heel area ofa user's foot. In this view the contour of upraised heel area (32) isvisible. The cup shape allows for extra comfort and security to the heelof the foot.

FIG. 7 is an end view from the heel area looking toward the toe area.From this view, one can see base (23) at upraised heel area (32),curvilinear indentations (28) on the bottom side of the insole, topsheet (25) in the area of raised arch support (30) and on medial topside.

Also shown is a heel cup depth (35) which is measured from the top sheet(25), approximately at the center of the heel area (10A), vertically upto the heel raised edge (36). In a preferred embodiment, heel cup depth(35) is approximately 15-16 millimeters.

FIGS. 8-13 show cross sections of the lines denoted in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 illustrates a cross section of metatarsal indentation (26) fromline 8-8 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a cross section along line 9-9 of FIG. 2. One can see thecross section of heel cushioning pad (20), forefoot pad (22). base (23)and top sheet (25). Upraised heel area (32) is also illustrated in crasssection.

FIGS. 10-13 show cross-sections of the insole at 10-10, 11-11. 12-12 and13-13 of FIG. 2 respectively. When compared one to another, the changein shape (both curve and thickness) at different sections of the insolecan be seen. The thickness is typically much greater in the arch area ofthe foot as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 12. The cup or dented shape of theupraised heel area (32) is best shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 10.

1-21. (canceled)
 22. A contoured arch support comprising: a base havinga medial arch area formed from a moldable resilient material; and aplurality of collapsible curvilinear indentations, each of saidcurvilinear indentations having a longitudinal axis extendingsubstantially lengthwise in a longitudinal heel-to-toe direction in saidmedial arch area of said base, said indentations integrally formed intothe bottom surface of said base.
 23. The arch support of claim 22,wherein said medial arch area collapses along said plurality oflongitudinal curvilinear indentations that extend lengthwise in saidmedial arch area.
 24. The arch support of claim 22, wherein saidplurality of longitudinal curvilinear indentations in said medial archarea collapse along said lengthwise indentations to fit a user's shoeproviding an accommodating fit to said user.
 25. The arch support ofclaim 22, wherein said plurality of longitudinal curvilinearindentations in said medial arch area collapse along said lengthwiseindentations in said medial arch area of said medial midfoot to minimizevoids caused by air entrapment.
 26. The arch support of claim 22,wherein said plurality of longitudinal curvilinear indentations in saidmedial arch area are positioned on said medial midfoot side of saidinsole from adjacent a lateral midfoot area to said medial side of saidinsole.
 27. The arch support of claim 22, wherein said plurality oflongitudinal curvilinear indentations extend lengthwise in said medialarch area positioned lengthwise from a border of said forefoot area andsaid medial arch area on said medial midfoot side to a border between aheel area and said medial arch area on said medial midfoot side.